blackman



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. L. BLAGKMAN. HYDRAULIC GOMPRESS.

Patented July 8, 1890.

.I en arie? Q. w JM. ...f s 1 4 -Efe (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. L. BLAGKMAN.

HYDRAULIC GOMPRESS.l

No. 431,738. Patented July 8,1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. L. BLACKMAN.

HYDRAITLIG` GOMPRESS.

No. 431,738. Patented July 8, 1890.

'ma mms PETERS co., Pauw-uma, wAsHmm'on, n. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

. A. L. BLAOKMAN.

HYDRAULIC OOMPRESS.

. No. 431,738. Patented July 8, l1890.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT LIVINGSTON BLACKMAN, `OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

HYDRAULIC CoM PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 431,738, dated July 8, 1890.

Application filed October l, 1889. Serial No. 325,640. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT LIVINGSTON BLACKMAN, a citizen of the United States, at present residing at London, in England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or relating to Hydraulic Compresses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the manner of constructing and economically and expeditiously operating hydraulic compressors especially applicable to the compression cf cotton, wool, jute, iaX, hemp, and other materials; and it consists, principally, in the manner of constructing an economical and powerful compress; also in employing compressed air and water or other duid under pressure in such a manner as to store and preserve the power employed as the actuating motor or agent for operating the compress, so as to secure a quick, prompt, responsive action as contradistinguished from the sluggish action usual in such motors; also by the utilization of the elasticity of the air to prevent a shock and incidental evil consequences resulting therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of my compress forming part of a balecompress car. Fig. 2 is aplan of abale-compress-car platform constructed of a series of accuInulator-tubes and having a central opening, showing in horizontal cross-section the pendent supporting suspender or stirrup, movable hydraulic cylinder and station ary tubular piston-rod of the bale-compress, and the duct in the said piston-rod for the passage of the actuating-fluid. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of my stationary bale-compress, showing the power-accumulators, duid-reservoir, forcepumps, connecting-pipes, and lifting-cranes. Fig. 4 is a plan of the same.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts.

A is the rectangular frame of a bale-compressor-car bed, preferably constructed of metal, strongly constructed and mount-ed on trucks adapted to travel on railways, whereby .it may be moved about from point to point where needed. This car-bed has a substantially-framed openin g A3 near its center, passing completely through it, and adapted to receive and accommodate the operation of the 5o' bale-compress B.

C C are series of cylindrical tubes arranged parallel l to each other, wholly within and forming the entire top of said car-bed, except the opening A3. The tubes C C are arranged 5 5 longitudinally with the car -bed, to which they tend to give greater strength and stability, and are connectedwith each other and with force-pumps D D', fluid-reservoir tanks d d', and the hydraulic cylinder b4, by induct 6o and educt pipes having suitable valves, as hereinafter pointed out, and they are adapted to serve as power-accumulators for the air and fluid-power motors, respectively. Over the foundation formed by the series of accumulators C C', if desired, may be adj ustedaflooring A2 to give the workmen operating the compress a better footing.

b b are two heavy substantial vertical upright standards orrbrackets, rigidly secured 7o at their lower ends to the car-bed on opposite ends of the central opening A3 and above to a cross-head s, formed on the stationary upper compressor-platen b', whereby a substantial rigid foundation and framing is' provided for 75 sustaining the strain, and within which the bale-compress may be operated. The upper side of cross-head s on stationary platen b is slightly arched, as seen in Fig. l, and has a curved groove or channel in its sides and up- 8o per edge for engaging with and sustaimng the endless supporting stirrup or suspender 112,'and is adapted to resist and sustain the upward pressure from the movablebale-compressor platen below. 8 5 b2 is a powerful nearly oval-shaped or oblongendless metal suspender or stirrup, having on its interior vertical edges Ways or channels yfor the guides h6, formed on the movable lower its outer edge for receiving, and is adapted tov engage with, rest on, and'be supported in the lower end of the endless suspender or stirrup, h2 in such a manner as to freely oscillate in its seat to allow the platen-face to adjust itself automatically to the inequalities of a bale while being compressed. The ends of said curved yoke are so extended as to aiford a rest for the cylinder b4 when in repose. The piston b5, the vertical hollow piston-rod 298, and the curved yoke or seat bi, having upward-projecting ends, are preferably cast in one piece with gussets b9, and so that the eX- f treme ends of the yoke 57 will form a rest for the lower edge of the hydraulic cylinder b4.

b4 is a cylinder open below, having an interior convex head, and is adapted to receive and work on the stationary piston b5, and is designed t0 serve as a movable hydraulic cylinder, and carries 011 its outer upper face a bale-compress platen b3, preferably part of the same, and is guided in its vertical motions by the guides b, moving in ways or channels on the inner edges of the endless suspender or stirrup b2. The upper face of the piston b5 is formed concave, so that the fluid used as a motor agent may be all readily drawn olf and leave no sediment to wear the cylinder, andthe opposing Working-face of the cylinder-head ispreferably formed correspondingly convex, so as to minimize the space to be.

charged with the motive agent and obtain a prompt response and maximum results.

The pressurc-accumulators C C', as shown in Fig. 2, are series of tubes properly conj nected together so as to form a substantial body and plat-form to the car-bed, of which it becomes part, serving to stiften and strengthen the structure, and receives the motor-fluid under pressure through conduit-pipes 'L' i', (shown in dotted lines,) respectively, from force-pumps D D. The .pumps D D draw the liquid which they displace respectively from the tanks Zand d', through pipes 712 and t3, respectively, and the said pumps may be operated by steam supplied through the pipe d4 v from a boilerv specially provided for the purpose, or preferably from the boiler of the 1ocomotive, by which the apparatus is transported from place to place, or from any other suitable source; or instead of by steam they may be operated by any other suitable motor agents.

The pipe (Z4 is provided with suitable couplings or valves'cl5 to enable the connection With the steam-generator to be made at either end of the car, the valves at the end not so connected being shut om d2 is a branched pipe for conducting the eX- haust-liquid from the cylinder of press B to the tanks d and d', d3, Fig. 2, being a valve by which such exhaust may be controlled. Instead of the two tanks d d', only one may be employed.

c is a pipe for conducting fluid under the pressure from the accumulators C to the cylinder b4, and c is a pipe for similarly conducting fluid under pressure from the accumulator C to the said cylinder.

c2 and c3 are valves by which admission to the cylinder b4 of the liquid under pressure may be controlled. The pipes c c are connected to the passage in bs in any suitable A and convenient manner. and cl3 are preferably connected by links, rods, levers, and the like to han d-levers F, by which they may all be operated from the same spot.

This compress may be located on any suitable fixed foundations, and in detail construction, arrangement, and connection is similar to that already described, the only points of difference being that the relative location of The valves'c2, c3,

the various parts is modified, and that `one of the tanks d d may be omitted and but one tank be used in regulating the supply of fluid to the pumps respectively.

The manner of operating the apparatus is as follows: First, to initially charge the accumulators C C', air is forced intosaid accumulator-tubes under pressure by the air-pump v compressing the air until the desi red pressure vin the accumulators is secured, at which point IOO IIO

there maybe an arrangement to automatically cut oif and stop the pumps. The valve connecting said accumulators C C with the hydraulic cylinder is then opened and the elasticity of the air expels the fluid from the accumulators into the hydraulic cylinder, thereby imparting action and force to the balecompress. Whenever the pressure falls below the pressure desired, the pumps automatically commence to work again and continue to augment and restore the power stored in the accumulators. AIn this arrangement the v accumulators C C maybe conveniently placed above the floor X or in any out-of-the-way place that may be accessible. When it is desired to compress a bale, the accumulator-sand pressure-reservoirs are charged as heretofore described, the platen b3 being in its lowest position. The uncompressed bale is placed thereon by the crane E or by any other means, the exhaust-valve d3 is closed', the pressurevalves c2 and c3 are opened, respectively, one after the other, so that by the elasticity of the air the liquid is forced from the accumulators C C under great pressure, through the hollow vertical stationary piston-rod bs ofthe stationary piston b5 into the movable `hydraulic cylinder h4 between the piston b5 and the head of the cylinder b4, thereby forcing the lower compress-platen h3, carrying the uncompressed bale upward against the stationary platen b with force sufficient to compress the bale into the dimensions desired. The bale is then hooped or bound in any of the usual ways, and the valves c2 and c3 turned o and the exhaustvalve cl3 opened. The platen will then descend by its own weight and that of the bale, and the liquid from within the cylinder will be forced through the passage in bs and 'exhaust-pipe cl2 back into-the tanks cl and d.

I claiml. In a bale-compressor, the movable hydraulic cylinder open below and having a bale-compressor platen on its upper face and adapted to adjust and work on and in combination with stationary piston, and having side guides, stationary piston having a concave face and central opening, hollow vertical stationary piston-rod having lateral openings at its base for the passage of actuating-Huid, curved yoke having upward-projecting ends and provided with achannel or groove through which it is secured in its seatin pendent endless suspender or stirrup, and a suspender or stirrup, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

2. In a bale-compress, a combined movable compress-platen and hydraulic cylinder open below, in combination with a stationary piston with a concave faceand central opening, having a stationary hollow piston-rod with lateral openings for the passage of actuatingfluid and terminating in a curved. yoke, having upward-projecting ends and grooved on its lower edge for adjusting on and engaging with pendent endless suspender or stirrup, oblong endless suspender stirrup, upper combined cross-head and stationary platen, and supporting brackets', substantially as de scribed. p

3. In a hydraulic power cylinder or balecompress, a stationary piston-rod, the latter having a curved grooved base, through which it is secured in its seatV in the endless suspender or stirrup pending from the stationary platen above, and a central vertical channel for the passage of the actuating-fluid, and the piston having a slightly concaved face, in combination with a movable cylinder terminating at the upper end in a face to serve as' a bale-compress platen, and a pendent suspender or stirrup, substantially as described.

4. In a bale-compress, the combination of the combined movable compress-platen and hydraulic cylinder formed in one piece, the latter open below and adapted to adjust on and be operated by a stationary piston, a stationary piston having a hollow piston-rod with induct and educt lateral openings and terminating in aV curved yoke or base, having a longitudinal groove or channel for engaging with pendent suspender or stirrup, an 0blong supporting endless suspender or stirrup, the latter adjusted in a groove or channelin the upper cross-head, and a stationary platen, substantially as described.

5 In abale-compress operated by hydraulic pressure, the combination of a combined movable compress-platen and hydraulic cylinder in one piece, the latter open below and adapted to Vwork on a stationary piston, the stationary piston with a concave face and central opening, and having a hollow cylindric piston-rod terminating in a curved yoke, having a groove in its lower edge for engaging with an oblong endless suspender or stirrup, and stationary platen and cross-head provided with a curved groove for receiving the endless suspender or stirrup, of the endless suspender or stirrup, of the pressurereservoirs, and pipes connecting the same with force-pumps and with the hydraulic cylinder, substantially as described. 6. In ahydraulicbale-compress,acombined movable platen b3 and hydraulic cylinder b4, open below and adapted to adjust and work on a stationary piston, stationary piston b5, with concave face, and having a hollow stationary vertical piston-rod bg, with lateral induct and educt openings n and fn', respectively, curved yoke,'of seat 57, having a longitudinal groove or channel in its lower edge for engaging with the endless oblong suspender or stirrup h2, stationary platen b,and

cross-head s, supporting-brackets b, reservoirs d and CZ', connecting-pipes c c', forcepumps D D', and connecting-pipes't fi', constructed and arranged substantially as described.

- 7. In ahydraulicbale-compress,acombined movable presser-platen b3 and hydraulic cylinder b4, open below, stationary piston b5, formed together with stationary piston-rod b8 and supporting-yoke la7, endless suspender or stirrup b2, stationary platen b', and grooved arched cross-head .s and supporting-brackets b, in combination with accumulators C C', force-pumps D D', supply-tanks del', and connecting-pipes provided with suitable valves, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

8. I'n combination, the rectangularframing of the car-body, havin ga central opening,A

the tubular accumulators securely arranged parallel therewith and to each other and forinin g the car-body and platform or car-bed, the

flooring laid thereon, the bale-compress sej cured within and supported by bracketsrigidly secured to said car-bed, partly within, said central opening, the force-pumps, supply-reservoirs, connecting-pipes, and movable hydraulic cylinder for compressing bales, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the rectangularframing of the car-body, the tubular` accumulators secured within and extending longitudi- In testimony whereof I have hereto set my nally of the same to form additional girders, hand in the presence of two subscribing witand having the central opening of the braeknesses.

ets secured rigidly on each side of the open- ALBERT LIVINGSTON BLACKMAN. 5 ing, and the platens and plunger Workingbe- Witnesses:

tween said brackets, substantially as de- HAROLD WADE,

scribed. HARRY B. BRIDGE. 

